The Emporia Recreation Commission is seeking an increase in dollars from the city of Emporia for the 2023 pool season.
During a special meeting Thursday, Assistant Director of Rec Operations Amanda Gutierrez presented the ERC’s annual Jones Aquatic Center Management agreement to commissioners for consideration. The only major change within the proposed document was an increase in the ERC’s management fee from the city of Emporia.
The proposed increase would see the fee rise from $47,000 to right around $155,000. Gutierrez says this would be the first increase in over a decade and comes as the ERC is looking to increase salaries to $15 per hour for lifeguards and $16 per hour for the JAC Aquatic Manager.
Gutierrez says the salary increases were suggested by Emporia Mayor and ERC Commissioner Susan Brinkman during the ERC’s monthly meeting last week. Gutierrez says it is a timely request given the city of Emporia is also currently looking into pay increases for its staff.
The proposed agreement may come before Emporia City Commissioners during their regular meeting next Wednesday.
In other business, commissioners also approved the guidelines for the Rec Commission Future Funding Team. The team will be tasked with researching potential expansion options for the Lee Beran Recreation Center and will specifically focus on potential options for funding.
The team will be comprised of five members and additional ex-officio members from a range of backgrounds including experts in financing, bond elections, sales tax and the like.
For more information on the Emporia Recreation Commission visit Emporiarec.org.
